THE chairman of ELTEC says he quit over the increasing demands of the job and a potential conflict of interest over the setting up of a new small business service for East Lancashire.

Roger Collinge, who is also chairman of Business Link locally, suddenly resigned his post at the training and enterprise council - which has just over a year left to run - last week.

After a board meeting following his resignation, a joint statement was issued by ELTEC and Mr Collinge, a partner in BDO Stoy Hayward Accountants of Bacup, who has been chairman for the last three years.

The resignation comes at a difficult time for ELTEC, which is being replaced as part of a shake-up in business support and training services.

The government shake-up will see ELTEC's services replaced by a countywide Learning and Skills Council and an East Lancashire-based Small Business Service. The structure of the two new bodies or what role ELTEC will have in the setting up of the Small Business Service are not yet known.

"The impending break up of ELTEC and radical restructuring of business support agencies from April 2001 has meant that Roger faced increasing demands in his dual role. There was also the potential for a conflict of interest should ELTEC and Business Link differ in their final views on how the new Small Business Service should operate," said the statement.

Business Link acts as a 'gateway' for business services in East Lancashire to help firms find the best advice.

The ELTEC board described Mr Collinge's resignation as "further evidence of his determination to serve the best interests of East Lancashire."

ELTEC has appointed Bill Davies, who has previously served as chairman, as Mr Collinge's replacement.

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